Chapter 22

AELLE

There's nothing more relaxing than coming back home after being away for so long. The past few months have been hectic for Aelle. She graduated at University not more than a year ago and was immediately offered a job. Over the year she's been busy on missions, she became a secret agent and was helping rescue more people like her who are trapped in trafficking rings. Ever since she helped shut down three of the biggest human trafficking ring around the world over two years ago when Madam Gu's nephew hunted down those who were responsible for hurting her.

Turned out that some of the Royal Official court were involved in the ring and had been selling Chinese girls out to these operations. Aelle had known that the ring was an international one so girls were trafficked from countries all around the world. Some relatives sold their children for money or because they were not straight. The Emperor was beyond furious when the news came to light. Aelle was summoned to the Palace to be a witness when the officials were tried. She managed to point out some of them as her culprit, to say the empire was angry would be an understatement because the man was livid. He immediately issued a decree to have those officials executed after hearing Aelle's story.

From then on, Aelle was asked to help identify any of the people she had seen while there, their names or any physical appearance. It had been an emotional rollercoaster but she had a lot of support. The Emperor had taken her as his goddaughter and she was the Royal Army's general's sworn sister so she had all the protection in the world. Storm and Lee stood by her through it all along with the Gu family. While working with the agents involved in the case, she realized just how lucky she had been to be found when she was. What they discovered had shocked Aelle to the core. The number of children and girls even boys they had to rescue. Some were even on the brink of death.

Aelle knew that was not all of them when they finally shut down the ring, she knew there were more vile people in the world. The more they shut down, others will rise again so she decided to become an agent. She wanted to help as much as she could and save as many lives as she can. She focused on her studies hard and managed to graduate early. Then she was hired by one of China's secret services under the King's order. Of course, Aelle wanted to deny at first but the General assured her that she was offerer the job due to her skills and qualifications not only because the King favoured her.

Since then she's been busy and rarely came home or had any contact with her family. This was the first time she came home in 4 months since she got her job. It has been a whole 5 years since she moved to China with the two people she loved most. The first 3 years were spent with her struggling between school, training and helping hunt down the people responsible for her trauma. Storm and Lee were taking care of her, the babies as well as handling the family businesses while running Storm's companies too. Gu Lin and Gu Xichen joined the businesses as soon as they graduated to help out with the work load. Lin helped Storm run her business since he was literally a tech genius while Xichen helped Lee. Gu Qing helped take care of the house and the triplets when she wasn't busy with studies.

Once everything was sorted out and their troubles lessened, Lee proposed to both women and all three of them got married with a month. Then Storm married Aelle when they went back to visit Travis and Lee adopted the triplets giving them his last name. They enjoyed their married life for a whole year before Aelle left for her first mission. Now she was back, she had missed her family a lot and was nervous too. She had been gone so long without any form of communication so she worried everyone was upset with her.

She sighed as she entered the house,"Aelle, you're back!" She was welcomed by Madam Gu and Mr Gu.

Aelle smiled softly, " Hello, mother, how are you?"

"All well, dear. I'm glad you're back, we've all been worried and missing you especially the boys as well as those spouses of yours." She winked at the young woman before giving her a hug and a forehead kiss.

" Where is everyone?" Aelle asked as she looked around.

Madam Gu pulled her to sit down with her as a maid brought them tea," A'Qing and the triplets are at school while the rest are working. The triplets should be back in half an hour. They will be happy to see you."

" I miss them too. I've missed everyone and I'm sorry I've been gone so long."

" Don't worry, none of us blame you. Work is important and your job is even more demanding but we are proud of you. You were able to get over your fears and now you're out there helping save more lives." Madam Gu dismissed her worries with a smile.

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"Momma!!!" Two little voices yelled as three sets of little feet ran into the room.

Aelle smiled when she saw her sons and opened her arms to hug them. Of course, Grayson and Christian were the ones to yell out while Tristan followed her silently." My cute munchkins, I've missed you." Aelle breathed as she kissed their foreheads.

"We missed you too, Momma." Grayson mumbled while snuggling closer to her.

"I'm sorry that I was gone for too long, momma should have called." She said sadly.

Tristan got on the bed and wrapped his little arms around her neck," You don't have to apologize, Momma, we know you love us and you left to catch bad guys so the world could be a lot safer."

Aelle was proud, her eyes teared as well. Her sons were always understand and smart. She did not want to be away from them too long though so she had to make sure that she does not take missions that would require her to be away for too long.

She spent the rest of the afternoon with the triplets. Gu Qing was happy to join them when she returned from school.   The triplets had their food, Aelle helped them with their bath and put them in their room for a nap.

When she went back to her room, she froze at the entrance. Storm had just came out of the bathroom with her wet short hair and a black robe around her body. She was walking towards the walk in closet when she suddenly stopped and turned to the door. Their eyes locked, Aelle felt a shiver run down her spine as Storm's dark eyes skimmed over her body searching for any injuries.

Aelle's eyes soften at the gesture, she entered the room and shut the door behind her. It wasn't until Storm turned fully to her did Aelle notice the small bump of her stomach. A small gasp left the younger as her trembling hand untied the robe to reveal the woman's naked front. Aelle's eyes brimmed with tears as she caressed the small bump, she was overwhelmed with joy seeing her wife pregnant." Y-you're pregnant. How far along?"

"I'm 3 and a half months along."

"I missed so much, didn't I?" Aelle asked sadly.

Storm stared at Aelle blankly before hugging the younger close and kissed her forehead lovingly," You might've lost a few things but we've been watching the news. You gave so much more to all those you've rescued and we're proud of you. The kids are proud of you and our baby will be too." She whispered into her ear. Aelle snuggled into her and sighed in content.

" Are you comfortable carrying the baby? I mean, you're dominant and more of the man between us."

Storm pulled back to look into the girl's eyes," I might be dominant but I've always wanted to have my own family. I'm happy to carry our child, you will too when you're ready. I just don't want you to think you're the only one who has to give our husband children, both of can do that for him. I love you."

" I love you so much, Storm."